Refuse can and cover securing device



May 23, 1961 R. L. CHAPMAN r:'rAL 2,985,416

REFUSE CAN AND COVER SECURING DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 b. w m

LR E EL. CHAPMAN,

GTPEF/AR INVENTOR 5 I I I I l ATTORNEYS.

y 1961 R. CHAPMAN ETAL REFUSE CAN AND COVER SECURING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1959 ELCHnPA/A/v, GKLTPEFFA'R- INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

2,985,416 REFUSE CAN AND COVER SECURING DEVICE Richard L. Chapman, 839 Steely St., and Glen E. Petfer, 130 Willish Ave., both 'of Waterloo, Iowa Filed Aug. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 835,926 1 Claim. (Cl. 2'48-154) This invention relates to refuse containers such as garbage and trash cans, the primary object of the invention being to provide means for securing the cans and covers of such containers, against accidential displacement as by wind pressure or animals prowling for food, which frequently results in the objectionable dumping and scattering the contents of the cans.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for securely holding the refuse can and cover thereof against displacement, but at the same time provide means which may be readily and easily operated to permit removal of the can cover with facility, to deposit refuse therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined refuse can and cover holder which may be adjusted for use in securing refuse cans of various heights and sizes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will secure the refuse can against being overturned or displacement and at the same time secure the cover or top in place on the receptacle against being opened by prowling animals.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a refuse can showing its cover as positioned thereon, and with the can and cover securing device forming the subject matter of the present invention as positioned for accomplishing its purpose.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof illustrating the cover as moved laterally to its open position to permit material or refuse to be positioned in the can.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental view of the means for attaching the device to the coverof the receptacle.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 77 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a refuse can is indicated generally by the reference character 5, and the cover of the can is indicated by the reference character 6, the cover having the conventional handle 7 secured thereto, all of which form no part of the present invention.

The device forming the subject matter of the present invention embodies a post 8 which is provided with a pointed end 9 so that the post may be readily driven into the ground surface. The reference character 10 indicates a lower bracket member, and the reference character 11 indicates an upper bracket member, the bracket members extending laterally from the post 8 as better shown by Figure 1 of the drawings, and disposed in such spaced relation with respect to each other that they will accommodate the coiled spring 12 therebetween, the coiled spring having its ends resting against the brackets while the spring has one end connected to a pin 13 that extends through the rod 14.

The upper end of the rod 14 extends laterally at 15, the laterally extended portion 15 of the rod being of a States Patent 0 "ice length to extend under the handle 7, as better shown by Figure 5 of the drawings.

The laterally extended portion 15 of the arm 14 is provided with an opening 16 that extends vertically therethrough, the opening 16 being designed to accommodate the bolt 17 that extends through the opening 18 formed in the curved arm 19. As shown by Figure 5 of the drawings, the arm 19 has one end thereof resting on the laterally extended portion 15 of the rod 14, and since the curved arm 19 is constructed of yieldable material, it will be obvious that when the nut 20 which is positioned on the threaded end of the bolt 17, is rotated to move the arm 19 towards the laterally extended portion 15 of the rod 14, the arm will be compressed.

Secured to one end of the arm 19, is a clamp bar 21 that extends transversely of the arm 19 in such position that the clamp bar 21 cooperates with the laterally extended portion 15 of the rod 14 in clamping the handle 27 securely attaching the cover 6 to the laterally extended portion 15 so that movement of the rod 14 will result in the movement of the cover, the coiled spring 12 biasing the cover towards the body portion of the receptacle 5 securing the cover in place.

In the operation of the device when it is desired to deposit refuse or material in the can or receptacle 5, it is only necessary to lift the laterally extended portion 15 of the rod 14 tensioning the spring '12 and moving the cover laterally as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. The receptacle is now open to receive refuse or material.

It is obvious that when it is desired to replace the cover the cover is again pulled upwardly tensioning the spring and placing the cover over the open end of the can 5. The coiled spring will now act to bias the cover towards the refuse can in such a way as to hold the cover securely and at the same time provide means for holding the refuse can against being knocked over and the contents spilled, by prowling animals, or wind pressure.

It will also be seen that due to this construction, the device is capable of supporting refuse cans and covers of various sizes.

It will also be noted that due to the construction of the clamping mechanism of applicant's invention, it is an easy matter for anyone unfamiliar with mechanics, to secure the clamp to the handle of the cover.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

The combination with a refuse can having a removable cover and a handle on said cover, of a. can cover securing device comprising a post secured in a supporting surface, a rod mounted on said post for movement longitudinally of said post, one end of said rod extending laterally over said can cover, and under said handle, providing a cover securing arm, said cover securing arm having an opening, a curved yieldable arm having an opening registering with said opening of said securing arm mounted on said cover securing arm with one end resting on said cover securing arm, an elongated transversely disposed clamp bar secured to the other end of said curved arm resting on said handle and disposed longitudinally of said handle adapted to clamp the top of said handle between said cover securing arm and said transversely disposed clamp bar, throughout the major portion of said handle a bolt extending through said registering openings of said cover securing arm and curved yieldable arm, and a nut on said bolt for tensioning said curved yieldable arm during the clamping action of said curved yieldable arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,295,909 Massey Sept. 15, 1942 2,365,079 Huber Dec. 12, 1944 2,636,925 Gascoigne Apr. 28, 1953 2,865,590 Greenwell Dec. 23, 1958 

